--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What can you conceive more silly and…" description: "\"What can you conceive more silly and extravagant than to suppose a man racking his brains, and studying night and day how to fly? ... wearying himself ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/william-law-8390_ascent_what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-ext_1252085.png" --- # What can you conceive more silly and extravagant than to… ![“What can you conceive more silly and extravagant than to suppose a man racking his brains, and studying night and day how to fly? ... wearying himself with climbing upon every ascent, ... bruising himself with continual falls, and at last breaking his neck? And all this, from an imagination that…” quote by William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/william-law-8390_ascent_what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-ext_1252085.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/william-law-8390_ascent_what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-ext_1252085.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a74/william-law-8390_ascent_what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-ext_1252085.png) > “What can you conceive more silly and extravagant than to suppose a man racking his brains, and studying night and day how to fly? ... wearying himself with climbing upon every ascent, ... bruising himself with continual falls, and at last breaking his neck? And all this, from an imagination that it would be glorious to have the eyes of people looking up at him, and mighty happy to eat, and drink, and sleep, at the top of the highest trees in the kingdom.” [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote satizes the folly of chasing fame and glory through dangerous, impossible feats driven by vanity. **In simple terms:** Chasing fame with risky stunts is foolish. Key Takeaway Avoid reckless pursuits for applause. Themes vanity hubris danger ambition Mood cautionary critical reflective Type advice philosophical warning When to use this quote - political campaigning - social media challenges - entrepreneurial hype - extreme sports - celebrity culture Key Concepts human nature pride illusion risk Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to seek validation? - How can you channel ambition safely? A Different Perspective Such pursuits can cause irreversible harm and waste true potential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Climbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbing/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Silly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silly/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) ## Related quotes > [What can you conceive more silly and extravagant than to suppose a man racking his brains, and studying night and day how to fly?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/what-can-you-conceive-more-silly-and-extravagant-than-to-suppose-a-2/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [“Imagination is a glorious thing, Without imagination there would be no solace for our suffering, no wondrous creations, no stories to beguile us, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-wrighton/imagination-is-a-glorious-thing-without-imagination-there-would-be-no/) Karen Wrighton > [How much time, creative energy, and emotion do we expend resisting change because we assume growth must always be painful? Much personal growth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/how-much-time-creative-energy-and-emotion-do-we-expend-resisting/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“Any movement toward Christ is ascent, and any direction away from Him is down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/any-movement-toward-christ-is-ascent-and-any-direction-away-from-him/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [The ascent to greatness, however steep and dangerous, may entertain an active spirit with the consciousness and exercise of its own power: but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-ascent-to-greatness-however-steep-and-dangerous-may-entertain-an/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Sometimes, when I get a good picture, it feels like I have taken another nervous step into increasingly rarified air. Each good-news picture, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/sometimes-when-i-get-a-good-picture-it-feels-like-i-have-taken/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [I at once commenced the ascent through a shower of arrows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crook/i-at-once-commenced-the-ascent-through-a-shower-of-arrows/) [George Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crook/) > [There is wonder and a certain wicked pleasure in these giddy ascents and terrible falls, especially as they happen to other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/there-is-wonder-and-a-certain-wicked-pleasure-in-these-giddy-ascents/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [The growth of all the plants of the garden from seeds and roots keep us mindful, in accordance with of the Parable of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stokes/the-growth-of-all-the-plants-of-the-garden-from-seeds-and-roots-keep/) John Stokes > [As I express my gratitude, I become more deeply aware of it. And the greater my awareness, the greater my need to express it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/as-i-express-my-gratitude-i-become-more-deeply-aware-of-it-and-the/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [The real goal of a spiritual tradition should not be ascent, but openness, vulnerability, and this does not require great experiences but, on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-berman/the-real-goal-of-a-spiritual-tradition-should-not-be-ascent-but/) [Morris Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-berman/) > [The member of a culture ... purposely avoids the relationship of intimacy; he wants the object somehow depicted and fictionalized. ... He is embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-weaver/the-member-of-a-culture-purposely-avoids-the-relationship-of-intimacy/) [Richard M. Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/) > [No one should deny the danger of the descent, but it can be risked. No one need risk it, but it is certain that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-one-should-deny-the-danger-of-the-descent-but-it-can-be-risked-no/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Without shedding of blood there is no anything. Everything, it seems to me, has to be purchased by selfsacrifice. Our race has marked every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/without-shedding-of-blood-there-is-no-anything-everything-it-seems-to/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [The ascent of any route begins, in dreams at least, the autumn before. Our minds ring, involuntarily, with the alluring names of mountains, aiguilles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-rebuffat/the-ascent-of-any-route-begins-in-dreams-at-least-the-autumn-before/) [Gaston Rebuffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-rebuffat/) ## More by William Law > [The will is that which has all power; it makes heaven and it makes hell: for there is no hell but where the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/the-will-is-that-which-has-all-power-it-makes-heaven-and-it-makes/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [No education can be of true advantage to young women but that which trains them up in humble industry, in great plainness of living,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/no-education-can-be-of-true-advantage-to-young-women-but-that-which/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [Be intent upon the perfection of the present day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/be-intent-upon-the-perfection-of-the-present-day/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [“Would you know who is the greatest saint in the world? It is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/would-you-know-who-is-the-greatest-saint-in-the-world-it-is-not-he/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [Man needs to be Saved from his own Wisdom as much as from his own Righteousness, for they produce one and the same corruption.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/man-needs-to-be-saved-from-his-own-wisdom-as-much-as-from-his-own/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [Be intent on the perfection of the present day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/be-intent-on-the-perfection-of-the-present-day/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [Hell is nothing else but nature departed or excluded from the beam of divine light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/hell-is-nothing-else-but-nature-departed-or-excluded-from-the-beam-of/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [If you attempt to talk with a dying man about sports or business, he is no longer interested. He now sees other things as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/if-you-attempt-to-talk-with-a-dying-man-about-sports-or-business-he/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [What could begin to deny self, if there were not something in man different from self?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/what-could-begin-to-deny-self-if-there-were-not-something-in-man/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [From morning to night keep Jesus in thy heart, long for nothing, desire nothing, hope for nothing but to have all that is within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/from-morning-to-night-keep-jesus-in-thy-heart-long-for-nothing-desire/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [The Prophet had made dishonorable proposals to my wife... under cover of his asserted 'Revelation.'... Smith told his wife Jane the Lord had commanded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/the-prophet-had-made-dishonorable-proposals-to-my-wife-under-cover-of/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [This is the state of all creatures, whether men or angels; as they make not themselves, so they enjoy nothing from themselves; if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/this-is-the-state-of-all-creatures-whether-men-or-angels-as-they-make/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [You have no questions to ask of any body, no new way that you need inquire after; no oracle that you need to consult;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/you-have-no-questions-to-ask-of-any-body-no-new-way-that-you-need/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [If someone is leaving you behind, and you are becoming jealous and embittered, keep praying that he may have success in the very matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/if-someone-is-leaving-you-behind-and-you-are-becoming-jealous-and/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) > [The greatest saint in the world is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives alms, or is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-law/the-greatest-saint-in-the-world-is-not-he-who-prays-most-or-fasts/) [William Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) [Explore all 81 William Law quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-law/) ## More Ascent quotes > [The ascent of any route begins, in dreams at least, the autumn before. Our minds ring, involuntarily, with the alluring names of mountains, aiguilles,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-rebuffat/the-ascent-of-any-route-begins-in-dreams-at-least-the-autumn-before/) [Gaston Rebuffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-rebuffat/) > [Without shedding of blood there is no anything. Everything, it seems to me, has to be purchased by selfsacrifice. Our race has marked every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/without-shedding-of-blood-there-is-no-anything-everything-it-seems-to/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [No one should deny the danger of the descent, but it can be risked. No one need risk it, but it is certain that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-one-should-deny-the-danger-of-the-descent-but-it-can-be-risked-no/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [The member of a culture ... purposely avoids the relationship of intimacy; he wants the object somehow depicted and fictionalized. ... He is embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-weaver/the-member-of-a-culture-purposely-avoids-the-relationship-of-intimacy/) [Richard M. Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-weaver/) > [The real goal of a spiritual tradition should not be ascent, but openness, vulnerability, and this does not require great experiences but, on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-berman/the-real-goal-of-a-spiritual-tradition-should-not-be-ascent-but/) [Morris Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-berman/) > [As I express my gratitude, I become more deeply aware of it. And the greater my awareness, the greater my need to express it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/as-i-express-my-gratitude-i-become-more-deeply-aware-of-it-and-the/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [The growth of all the plants of the garden from seeds and roots keep us mindful, in accordance with of the Parable of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stokes/the-growth-of-all-the-plants-of-the-garden-from-seeds-and-roots-keep/) John Stokes > [There is wonder and a certain wicked pleasure in these giddy ascents and terrible falls, especially as they happen to other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/there-is-wonder-and-a-certain-wicked-pleasure-in-these-giddy-ascents/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [I at once commenced the ascent through a shower of arrows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crook/i-at-once-commenced-the-ascent-through-a-shower-of-arrows/) [George Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crook/) > [Sometimes, when I get a good picture, it feels like I have taken another nervous step into increasingly rarified air. Each good-news picture, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mann/sometimes-when-i-get-a-good-picture-it-feels-like-i-have-taken/) [Sally Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mann/) > [The ascent to greatness, however steep and dangerous, may entertain an active spirit with the consciousness and exercise of its own power: but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-ascent-to-greatness-however-steep-and-dangerous-may-entertain-an/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [“Any movement toward Christ is ascent, and any direction away from Him is down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/any-movement-toward-christ-is-ascent-and-any-direction-away-from-him/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [How much time, creative energy, and emotion do we expend resisting change because we assume growth must always be painful? Much personal growth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/how-much-time-creative-energy-and-emotion-do-we-expend-resisting/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [The strategy of semantic ascent is that it carries the discussion into a domain where both parties are better agreed on the objects (viz.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-van-orman-quine/the-strategy-of-semantic-ascent-is-that-it-carries-the-discussion/) [Willard Van Orman Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-van-orman-quine/) > [Despair is good. Despair can be the nadir of one life and the starting point of an ascent into another, better one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/despair-is-good-despair-can-be-the-nadir-of-one-life-and-the-starting/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) Browse all 168 Ascent quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What can you conceive more silly and extravagant than to suppose a man racking his brains, and studying night and day how to fly? ... wearying himself with climbing upon every ascent, ... bruising himself with continual falls, and at last breaking his neck? 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